The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 309: First Night

Chapter 309: First Night

Immediately after Chen Ying made the announcement, the faint figures of the four werewolves disappeared from the gray fog, having been concealed by the strange power of the Rune Cave.

Gao Yang held his breath. The four werewolves must have decided who to kill during the first night after careful discussion. Were he in their shoes, who would he go after?

When everyone’s role was unknown, the choice would be random, but not entirely so.

First, the werewolves would like to avoid going after those they were close to.

However, the four werewolves were likely members of different organizations; when everyone wanted to protect their own, no one could.

They would have come to an agreement. For their survival, they had to eliminate as much risk as possible. And in a game of Werewolf, the quick-minded ones were the bigger threats.

Gao Yang wouldn’t say that he was the smartest among the thirteen of them, but he was on the clever side, which was also the image he presented to others.

He would very likely be considered the first-tier threats, to be eliminated first.

Vermilion Bird, White Rabbit, and Green Tea would be candidates as well for being the smart or cunning ones.

Gao Yang’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and he started.

At some point, four blazing black shadows had appeared in the gray fog outside his cell. They wavered and shifted without a concrete mass like two-dimensional geometric shapes.

Gao Yang’s heart pounded. Shit, the werewolves are coming for me!

One figure reached out toward his cell, the shadow slowly morphing into black smoke and flying toward Gao Yang.

“Fire!” Gao Yang reflexively activated Fire in order to destroy the black smoke, but it was to no avail. The fire went through the smoke immediately, not stopping its approach at all.

Then Gao Yang activated Teleportation, but again, it was a fruitless attempt. He couldn’t get out.

Face pale, Gao Yang backed away until his back hit the wall. There was no way to go.

The thread of black smoke swirled toward Gao Yang at a deliberate pace, seemingly considering Gao Yang. After a few seconds, it morphed into a wolf’s paw with five sharp claws.

Gao Yang held his breath, his heart racing.

I’m gonna die! I’m gonna get killed!

No, don’t give up yet. I still have hope. The witch can save one person!

Gao Yang’s heart pounded. He tried his best to overcome his fear by comforting himself.

Two seconds later, the werewolf clawed at his chest.

Gao Yang reflexively raised his hands to defend himself, but the claw-shaped smoke dispersed after burrowing into Gao Yang's chest.

“Ah!”

He couldn’t help but cry out, scrambling to unbutton his shirt. Indeed, on his chest, where his heart was, five black gashes had been left.

No!

I don’t want to die here!

Gao Yang gasped for breath and tapped into his energy as much as he could, trying to offset the damage that would be inflicted on him. But it was no use. A strange power continued to weave into his chest.

Gao Yang shuddered. He dared not keep moving.

Like an invisible hand, the chilling power grabbed onto his heart, only it hadn’t applied any force, as if waiting for the final command to be issued.

Swish.

The four wavering figures disappeared.

A few seconds later, Chen Ying said, “Werewolves, please return.”

There was a twenty second silence.

Bam!

The metal doors slammed shut. The four werewolves had returned to their cells.

Inside his cell, Gao Yang found himself drenched in cold sweat. He still had his back pressed to the wall, too fearful to move even a muscle. His sole focus was on the force around his heart, which had his life in its grasp.

“Witch, please come out,” Chen Ying continued to lead the progress of the game.

“This person is the one killed. Would you like to save them?”

Here comes the witch!

Gao Yang prayed inwardly. Save me! Please save me!

The ten seconds or so crawled by like the worst torture. Then a fire-like figure appeared outside Gao Yang’s cell, concealed by the gray fog.

Gao Yang almost burst into tears. Thank God the witch decides to save me! I’m safe!

He quickly calmed down, and upon reflection, this was only to be expected.

Were he the witch, he would choose to save the victim this time as well.

Although with more experienced players, it wasn’t unusual for werewolves to target themselves to make the witch use the healing potion, this was a game where death was real. No one would be reckless enough to risk killing themselves just to rob the witch of a potion!

Outside of Ghost Horse, of course.

Therefore, the werewolves’ victim must be a member of the good team, and the witch had no choice but to save them.

Even the newbies among them would be able to think this far should they get the witch card. Thus, there was no telling who the witch was just yet.

Gao Yang continued to analyze the situation quietly.

The shifting black shadow reached into the cell, morphing into a small chunk of black fog in the shape of a vial, hovering beside Gao Yang.

A few seconds later, the vial flew into Gao Yang’s chest, and the force seizing his heart vanished instantly.

Gao Yang immediately opened his collars. The claw print on his chest was gone.

Thank heavens! I’m not dying just yet!

When Gao Yang looked back up, the black shadow had already disappeared.

“I see.” Chen Ying’s voice rang from all over the gray fog. There was a hint of relief and exhaustion in her tone.

Of course, Gao Yang only noticed because he was the one targeted. The others might not have sensed it at all.

“You have a death potion, witch. Do you use it? If so, who do you use it on?” Chen Ying continued speaking her line.

A minute later, she said, “I understand. Please return, witch.”

Gao Yang soon heard the sound of a cell door closing.

“Seer, please show yourself.”

Click.

“Seer, please pick one person to check their role.”

Chen Ying was now able to keep her voice composed like an impartial judge should.

Ten seconds later, she asked, “Do you confirm the target?”

The seer must have said something, but Gao Yang couldn’t hear it.

Ten seconds later, another shifting figure appeared outside of Gao Yang’s cell.

He started.

Seriously, the seer is coming to me too?

Is it because they consider me a big threat that they confirm my identity first?

“Their role,” Chen Ying paused, “Has been revealed.”

Ten seconds passed.

The figure disappeared.

Click.

The seer soon returned to their cell.

Gao Yang was filled with a myriad of feelings.

I’m sorry for doubting you earlier, system. I am truly lucky this time. On the first night alone, I got targeted by the werewolves, saved by the witch, and then checked by the seer. That gave me a silver water and a gold water[1].

Although I’m only a villager, I’ll immediately become the most known good member at this table.

In the short term, the werewolves won’t target me, but will instead consider winning me over; the same is true of the good team. Thus, I’ll get to live for a long time.

“Hunter, please come out to let me see you.” Chen Ying continued the procedures.

Thirty seconds passed.

“Hunter, please return.”

Another thirty seconds.

“The day has arrived.”

The thick gray fog permeating the prison hall quickly dispersed. Chen Ying was still sitting on a stone chair by the roundtable, her head slightly lowered and her expression somewhat dejected. But overall, she was calm.

The metal doors of the twelve single cells opened automatically. Everyone was eager to come out after the tortuous night.

“Please have a seat,” Sir Zuo said.

They each found their seats and sat down.

“Captain...” Can turned to him from the right side and whispered. “You alright...?”

“No under-the-table discussion,” Sir Zuo immediately warned. “Your first mistake is forgiven, but if there is a second time, the game will be over, and all will be eliminated.”

Many pairs of eyes shot daggers at Can.

Knowing that she had almost made a fatal mistake, Can looked down in shame, her face blanching and flushing in turn.

Gao Yang was conflicted. Although Can had made a mistake, she had revealed some information at the same time.

She was unlikely to be a werewolf; she wasn’t cunning enough to react like that were she one.

“Please continue, moderator,” Sir Zuo prompted.

Taking a deep breath to collect herself, Chen Ying stood up and announced, “Last night was a peaceful night, everyone. No one dies.”

There was a slight commotion. Judging by the way everyone shifted their postures, they were all relieved to hear that.

Gao Yang suddenly realized just how difficult things were for the four wolves.

In order to live, they had to not only choose to kill their companions, but also act and lie to mislead the other eight players.

If he had gotten a werewolf card, how tormented would he have been?

“Those who would like to run for sheriff, please raise your hands.”

1. In the Chinese circle, players refer to the act of the seer revealing someone as a member of the good team as ‘giving out gold water’, while ‘silver water’ refers to the witch saving you. Basically, gold water confirms you as a member of the good team as long as the seer is the real deal, and silver water means you’re very likely to be a member of the good team. ?